Device for automatically moistening and serving strips of tape.



c. G. MORTIMER. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVING STRIPS 0F TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I3. 1914- 1,271,608.. Patented Jul 1918.

5 SHEETS-S T I.

1 'Illll x v WITNESSES umwron 8) QM M v 4%.. ATT RIVEZF/M? C. G. MORTIMER. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVINGI STRIPS 0F TAPE. APPLICATION FILED MAYI3. 1914.

1 ,271 ,603. Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES IIVVE/VTU/i' C. G. MORTIMER. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVING STRIPS 0F TAPE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY l3. IBM- Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I Hi l 5mm WITNESSES %%M a 0 All. NOR/V5787 C. G. MORTIMER. 1

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVING STRIPS OF TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI3. 1914.

LWLGQZB. A PatentediJuly 9,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I IMII 3 ll mlmll C. G. MORTIMER. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVING STRIPS 0F TAPE. APPLICATION FILED mAYIa. 1914.

1 ,2?1,603, I Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WIT SSES 4 D //V I/E/V T 0/? -tain features are tion drive, and

CHARLES G. MORTIMER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL BINDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING AND SERVING STRIPS OF TAPE.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, 1918.

Application filed m 13, 1914. Serial No. 838,197.'

'To all who m it may concern following description, in connection with .the accompanying draw1ngs, 1s a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to strip serv ing devices, particularly those of the automatic type. The object is to provide an improved apparatus and one in which oer-- directed to serving strips.

of tape of various lengths automatically in adhesive condition ready for application.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawings which accompany this specification in which,

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a machine.

the friction gear to engage it at different distances from the center.

illustrating my invention,

Fig; 2, a top view thereof, R L Fig. 3, a' central longitudinal section on the line 33, Fig: 2, i Fig. 4, a vertical crosssection on the line 4-4, Fig. 2, a

5,21 section Oil the line 5-"5 of Fig. 4, Fig; 6, a detail of the knife operating mechanism, 1 Fig. 7 a detail of the mechanism for regulating the strip length,

Fig. 8, a detail of the pawlcarrying arm attached to the main shaft, I Fig. 9, a detailof the change speed fricdetail of the wedge carrying Fig. 10 is a i lever arm associated with the clutch mechanism.-- I

The particular strip serving device illustrated in the accompanying drawings to show one embodimentof my invention proa number-of similarly shaped recesses 1'; ,in "the rear face of the friction disk. A

vides an apparatus which "automatically feeds, severs and moistens strips of tape of various lengths, delivering them so that they a may readil be put to any desired use, such for examp e, as sealing packages; but obviously my invention is not restricted to a machine containing all such features. It is contemplated that the apparatus shown shall be power driven and so constructed that-it maybe operated at any required speed within a wide range; Provision has also been made in the present device for arresting operatioif of the tape handling mechanism without shutting ofi the power. a I

Referring now to'Fig. 1 of the drawings, power is applied to the driving shaft 1, journaled in suitable bearings 89 in the frame 90, by means of a-pulley 2, and is in. turn transmitted to the main shaft of the tape handling apparatus-through a change speed friction drive comprising a friction gear 3 adapted to engage a-friction disk 4 journaled on a stud 13 and a grooved collar 5 mounted on the driving shaft to' rotate therewith and with the friction gear3. -A

' shift handle 6 pivoted at 7 inthe frame work of the machine is operatively connected with I said collar and provided with suitable flocking mechanism including a pawl 8 cooperating with a ratchet 9 and a spring pressed controlling rod 10. It will be readily understood that the speed at which. the friction disk is driven may'be varied by causing An idler 11 loosely. mounted on the driving shaft 1 bears against thefriction disk to compensate for the pressure of the driving friction gear 3. In Figs. 2, 5, and 10, the clutch mechanism referred to above is illustrated. both in detail andin its relation to the entire ma-.

vQchine. It comprises thefriction disk 4 al ready referred to, a collar 12 loosely mounted on the stud 13, which also carries the friction disk 1, and means for connecting and disconnecting the friction disk and the collar '12.- Inasmuch as this collar is also provided with a, gear, 14, which mesheswith spring '18is provided to bear against the pin 16 in such a manner. that the latter is normally pressed in the direction of the frictiondiskso as toengage one of the aforesaid recesses unless it'is positivelyv withheld therefrom. When the machine is in operation, this pin maybe withdrawn from the recesses in the disk by means of a wedge 19 suitablymounted on a lever arm 20-,pivoted in the frame work of the machine adjacent to-the collar 12 so that the narrow end of the wedge will lie in the path of the rotating pin 16 to engage the head 21 thereof, and withdraw the pin from engagement with the recesses in the disk. In order that this feature of the operation of the clutch may be properly timed with reference to the tape handling mechanism, I provide a smooth collar 22 adapted to rotate with the gear 15 on the main shaft 23 (Fig. 5). This collar has a notch 24 to receive a projecting lug 25 mounted on the wedge carrying lever arm '20. The action of this lever arm 20 may be controlled in any suitable manner, but I have provided a treadle and lever mechanism whereby the Wedge is held normally by spring pressure in' the path of the rotating collar, which ceases to operate as soon as the pin is withdrawn from connection with the friction disk, and whereby the lug 25 is held normally against the periphery of the collar 22 so as to drop into the notch 24 'nnless restrained. This is accomplished b means of a latch 26, indicated in Fig. 1, w ich is suitably mounted to engage adhering. thereto. Adjacentlto the rollerj32" a treadlelever 27 and hold it against spring pressure in its lowermost position so that the lug 25 does not contact with the smooth collar 22. i 4

To release the pin from the wed e 19 for the purpose of causing the tape handling machinery to operate, the operator presses down upon the treadle lever 27, whereupon the pin is forced by pressure of the spring 18 into engagement with one of the recesses 17 in the disk. From the foregoing, it;will be understood that the machine which I have illustrated may be thrown into and out of operationby a simple treadle operated mechanism and further, that the speed of the operating partsmay be accurately controlled by ineans of a change speed apparatus, such as that heretofore described- Thetape feeding, tape severing, and tape moistening elements of-the device are operated through suitable" connections geared with the main shaft23 (Fig. 3). A supply of tape '30 .in the form offa' roll may be supported upon a spindle 328, or other suit-' able means. The web'ofthe tape is led between guides 29 to a pair of feeding rollers 31 and 32 (Fig. 3), the roller32 being. provided. with peripheral flanges 33 to reduce to a minimum the possibility of the tape which contacts with the gummed side of the tape, I have provided a bar 34 having 'on its upper edge a series of alternate projections 35 and indentations 36 (Fig. 4). As thus located, with referenceto the feeding roller 32,-it serves both as'a stripper to remove tape w'lfieh has adhered thereto and also to guide the tape from the feeding rollers to the f V apparatus" the said feeding rollers being. positively driven b means of gears 37 and 38, the latterbeing loosely mounted on the main shaft 23. The

shaft 23 and adapted to carry a spring actuated pawl 40, and a ratchet wheel 41' attached to a collar which is loosely mounted on the main shaft 23 and which also car ries the gear wheel 38, thesaid gear wheel being operatively connected with the feedihg roller 32 through the gear 37.'as described above. Referring now'to Figs and 8 of the drawings. the pawl carrying arm39 is inclosed within a dial casing 42, the latter being provided with a fixed lug 43 projecting inwardly so as to engage the cam shaped free end 44 of the pawl 40,

thus disconnecting the said pawl from the ratchet wheel 41, the parts being in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.7, the pawl carrying arm 39 moving in the directlon of the arrow.

main shaft 23 and is adapted to carry a spring pressed'trip 46 normally extending inwardly through perforations 47 (Fig. 2)"

in the dial casing as hereinafter described and designed to engage a spring pressed plunger 48 mounted in the pawl carrying arm. This plunger 48 is associated with a r An adjustable trip I carrying arm 45 1S loosely mounted on the same so that it may engage the ratchet wheel' .41. The connection between the plunger 48 and the trlgger 49 is effected by means of a pin 50 projecting from the plunger 48 so as to engage a corresponding slot 51 .in thetrigger. Thus it will be understood that when the plunger 48 is depressed by the movable trip 46, as just described,'the pin 50 will press upon the side of the slot 51 to depress the trigger. A

As pointed out above, the arm 45 is adapted to carry the trip 46 and is adjustable around the circumference of the dial casing nately-by swinging 60 gages a laterally arm 45 by partially effected as quickly 42. This arm 45 is further provided with a longitudinally extending slot 52 which enextending lug 53 on the trip member 46, adapted to engage the cam shaped portion of a lever arm 54 pivoted on the trip carrying arm, the said lever arm 54 being rotatable by means of a knob 55. Thus it will be understood that when the operator wishes to adjust the machine to feed a given length of strip,- he releases the rotating the knob 55 against spring pressure so that the cam shaped portion 56 of the lever arm 54 will bear outwardly against the lug 53 to force the trip member 46 out of engagement with one of the perforations 41 in the dial casing 42.

When the tripmember is thus raised, the trip carrying arm 45 may be swung around to the position on the dial indicating the desired length of tape stri and, upon the release of the arm 54 by t e operator, the trip member 56 will beforced by pressure of a sprin 57 into engagement with the proper per oration in the periphery of the dial casing.

It has been founddesirable to provide, in a machine of this character, -mechanism for serving alternately strips of two different lengths. That is, for exam le, it might' be desirable in sealing a box 0 certain dimensions that one strip be six inches long and the other strip be fifteen inches long. 'In

order that strip length adjusting mechanism may be as possible, indicator stops have been provided. These stops are set at positions on thedial indicating the two desired lengths of strip, and, as shown in Fig. 7, they comprise arms 58 and 64 respectively mountedon the "main shaft 23,

having a pointer 59 which, with the figures on the dial casing, indicates to the operator the length of strip which-the machine will serve when the strip carrying arm 45- is positioned in proper relation thereto. As shown in'Fig. 7 this arm 45*is provided withlatoral-extensions 60 and 61 which are adapted to contact with the faces 62'and 63 of the arms 58 and 64 respectively. JThus, when the extension 60 contactswith the face 62 onthe arm 58, the machinev will serve the 'strip of the length indicated'by the pointer 59. The result is similar with respect to the operation of the arm sion,6 1.

It will be two lengths-of tape may be served alterthemovable. trip alternately against the two stops. It is conte'mplated that theprovision of the stopspermits more rapid operation than if the operator were compelled to select the desired position, on the dial at each change. The

64 and the extenunderstood, therefore, that the arms 58 and 64 are provided with spring the necessary shifting of the where the knife is actuate thus been disconnected ing roller pressed pins 65 and 66- suitably shaped to.

fit the perforations 47 in the periphery the dial casing.

After the tape feeding rollers have operated to draw out a strip of predetermined length by means of the mechanism hereinabove described, the web of tape is severed h" cutting means operated from the main shaft. Referring now to- Figs-4 and 6, a fixed blade 67 ismounted in .front of and adjacent to the feeding roller 31. A swing ing blade 68 is pivoted so that its cutting further provided with a fixed collar '72 adapted to seat upon the surface 73 of the frame work of the machine in which there is a hole 74 to receive and guide the lower end of the rod 69.- The collar .72upon the rod limits the downward movement" thereof so that the projecting lugs 70 will normally be in proper position to be engaged periodically by the cam 71. The upward thrust of the movable knife blade 68 is limited by a suitable buffer 75 attached" to the fixed blade. After the cam 71 has actuated the rod 69, the latter resumes its normal position by force of gravity and the movable blade 68 acts similarly. It will be understood that the operation of the arts is such that d, the feed rollers will have a non-feeding relation to the knife. For this purpose the parts may be so related that the said rollers will be thrown out of gear at a certain point in each rotation of the main shaft, this point being marked by the engagement of the pawl 40 with the fixed stop 43 as previously described. Obviously the movable knife may be made to operate immediately after the pawl 40 has 70 adapted to be enfrom the ratchet wheel 41 by positioning. the cam 71 on the main shaft so that the said cam will actuate the knife operatingmechanism just after the pawl carrying arm 39 passes the fixed trip 43.

As pointed out heretofore, the moistening apparatus of the present device is preferably arranged to operate in synchronism with the tape feeding mechanism. of the tape after assing the rolls and the stationary knife 67 is guided so as to contact with the peripheral surface of a moisten- 7 6 It is contemplated that when gummedtape is used, the moistening rollers are rotated in a supply of water, a film of which adheres upon its peripheral surface to moisten the gum on the tape. It may be,

The leading end 'a supply of adhesive material.

to the moistening roller.

In a machine designed to operate rapidly, it, is essential that the tape should be gulded I accurately to the moisteningroller. By locat- I ing the moistener relatiyely'close to the tape feeding roller, and by providinga guide bar 34 heretofore referred to, the free end of the tape is made to register with the exposed surface of the moistening roller" upon which it is carriedtoward a presser roller 79. I prefer to'make the moistening roller of comparatively large diameter so that the oncoming tape and may meet the rotating surface of the roller at a proper angle to be readily carried therewith. I also findit advantageous to mount the moistening roller in the moisture carrying receptacleso that.

only a small part of its peripheral surface is exposed. According to Fig. 3, the relatively large moistenin tank 81 partially filled with water, or some other moistening medium. The walls of this tank extend upwardly so as to substantially inclose the moistening roller except for acomparatively small surface upon which the tape is moistened. 'The moistening roller, which is preferably made of an impervious material having a'rolighened peripheral sur- I .faee (Fig. 2) in order that it .may carry up grooves-82 (Fig-2)..

sufficient water for'moistening the tape, is provided with a plurality of peripheral At the front of the moistening tank, I have located a bar 83 provided with a plurality of prongs. 84,

adapted to engage' tl e grooves 82ein the roller. These prongs and the bar adhering to the moistening roller. Immediatelyabove the's'aid'moistening roller, are

presser rollers '7 9 I peripheral sur nection with the operation and 85, (Figs. 2 and 3), rovided with peripheral projections and eld in spring fpressed engagement with the ace of the moistening roller.

Intermediate these presser rollers, is a transverse bar SG carryinga -plurality of spaced projecting members 87 extending down-- wardly toward the moistenin roller and so positioned with respect to t e two presser -1ide the free endof the tape under the se c ond presser roller 85. It has been'found moon; of automatic power driven machinesthat the swiftly rotating moisteher carries with it a superfluous-amount of water, tending to thereb flood the tape and tohinder e ient operatanl whereby the adhesive condition of the roller 80 rotates in a,

temperatures. For t adhesive substance to 'and length of time, so as act as strippers-to prevent the end of'the tape from for varying the speed nected with the main tion of the machine. To prevent this, I- have placed a freely rotating roller 88 between the moistening roller and the rear of the r in such a manner that it is supported wholly by these two members and therefore bearsagzfinst them with a pressure varying according to its weight. This roller bearing in this manner against the moisture carrying surface of the moistener as it emerges from the water supply, intercepts the superfluous water and permits only a comparatively thin film of moisture to adhere to the moistening roller. In order that the tape may be thoroughly moistened in spite of the thinness of the film of Water, I have provided the two presser rollers described above to hold the tape in firm contact with the moistening roller over a substantial portion of the peripheral surface thereof, thus allowing sufficient exposure of the gum to the moistener to insure its thorough impregna tion.

In connection with the moistening apparatus, I have also provided further means 1m may be secured more quickly and more effectively than heretofore. In the case of in; ferior gums and under some climatic conditions, it may be found that the "gum on the tape will not become thoroughly impregnated with the moistening agent. By applying heat in a suitable manner, the gum may be dissolved more rapidly than is usually the case where moistening is attempted at'low is purpose I rovide means for heating-the water contamed in the moistening tank, Fig. 3, here shown as af'gas burner 91, with a suitably located shut o valve 92. In the event that ungummed tape is used in the,.device, then said burner orheating means would serve to reduce an theproper consistency maintain the same for any desired to be applied to the tape to render it properly adhesive.- I claim-as my invention:

1. In a device for-automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the

combination of a holder for a supply of tape, feeding means for feeding strips of predetermined length, severlng means adapted to.

cut the tape while the feeding means are arrested, moistening means for rendering the strips adhesive, a main shaft having connections for positively operating the feeding, severing and moistening means, means of said feeding, severmg and moistenmg means including a driving shaft, a friction disk operatively .con-

shaft, and a friction gear mounted on the driving shaftto engage the face of saiddisk and movable along the, said driving shaft .radially with respect to said disk to vary the speed thereof:

2. In a device for automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the

combination of a holder for a supply of tape,

feeding means for feeding strips of predetermined length. severing means adapted to cut thetape while the feedlng means are arrested, moistening means forrendering the strips adhesive, a main shaft having connections for positively operating the feeding, severing and moistening means, a variable speed friction drive including a driving shaft and a friction disk having a plurality of recesses, a disk clutch operatively con"-' 3. In a device for automatically moisten ing and serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a supply of tape, a shaft operative continuously, a collar loosely mounted on said shaft and'carrying a gear and a ratchet wheel, an arm fastened to said shaft and rotatable therewith, the said arm being provided with a pawl to engage the ratchet wheel, means disposed in the path of the arm to alternately trip and set the pawl. feed rollers operatively connected with the aforesaid gear and adapted to be rotated thereby when the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet and to be arrested after the pawl has been disengaged therefrom, means for severering the strip when the feed rollers are arrested, and means for rendering the strips adhesive.

7 4. In a device for automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a supply of tape, feeding means for feeding strips of predetermined length, an adjustable trip operatively connected with the feeding means to cause the latter to operate, movable stops adjustable in the path of the trip to limit its movement, severing means adapted to cut the tape while the feeding means is arrested,

. and moistening means for rendering the strips adhesive.

In a device for automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for asupply of tape,

feeding nieans for feeding strips of prede-\ termined length, severing means for cutting the tape, a moistening roller having an impervious surface, presser rollers arranged to contact with the moistening roller, and guiding means between the presser rollers to direct the free end of the tape under ,each sues ceeding roller.

6, In a device for serving-strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a supply-of tape; andjrnoistening meanscomprisin a roller mounted to rotate in a supply 0 water, and a relatively small roller supported by andin contact with the periph eral surface of the moistening roller to press excess moisture from the exposed portion thereof.

. 7. In a device for automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a .supply of tape, feeding means for feeding strips of predetermined length, severing means adapted to cut the tape while the feeding meansare arrested, moistening means; for rendering the strips adhes1ve,-a mam shaft havingconnections for positively operating the,

feeding, severing and moistening means, aavariable speed friction drive. including a driving shaft for a friction disk, and means for actuating and arresting the main shaft during continuous operation of the driving shaft including a main shaft driving member and means for releasably connecting sald member and thefriction disk.

,9. In a'strip serving device, the combination of a holder for a supplyof tape, means adapted to positively feed tape strips of predeterminable length,and means for varying the length 'of strips fed, during operation of the feeding means. v

10. In a strip serving device, the combination ofa holder for a supply of tape, means adapted to positively feed tape strips of predeterminable length, and means adjustable during operation of the feeding means for controlling said strip feeding means whereby strips of different lengths may be fed alternately by adjusting said controlling means during the feeding operation. I.

11. In a strip serving device, the combination of a holder for a supply of tape, means adapted to positively feed tape strips of predeterminable length, and means for controlling said strip feeding means to feed strips of various lengths comprisin a strip feed actuating member, a strip eed arresting member, and means forshifting the position 'of the latter member to effect a change of, strip length during normal operation of the strip feeding means.

12. In a strip serving device, the combination of a holder for a supply 'of tape, means adaptedto positively feed tape strips of predeterminable length, means to delimit the operating period of said feeding means, and means for adjusting 'said delimiting means for any given strip length during the feeding of the preceding stri 13. In a strip serving device, the combination of a holder for a supply of tape,

means adapted to positively feed tape strips of predeterminable length, means to delimit and strip length indicating means cooperthe operating period of said feeding means,

ating with said delimiting means.

14. In a strip serving device, the combination of a holder fora supply of tape, means adapted to positively feed tape strlps of predeterminablelength, means to delimit the operating periodof said feeding means, strip length indicating means cooperating with said delimiting means, and a stop member adjustable in the path of said delimiting means.

15'. In a device for serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a supply of tape, and moistening means. comprising a roller mounted to rotate in a container of moistening liquid, and a second roller lying between said first roller and a. wall .of the container and 'adapted to press excess moisture from the. exposed portion thereof.

.16. In a device for serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of'a holder for a supply of tape, and moistenin means com-v prising a posltlvely driven ro ler mounted to rotate in a contamer of moistening liquid, and a relatively small roller lying between said first roller and a wall of the container and overlying a portion ofsaid moistening roller and in rollingcontact therewithto press excessive \moisture from the exposed portion of the peripheral surface of the moistener.

-17 In a device for automatically moistening and serving strips of adhesive tape, the combination of a holder for a supplyof tape,

feeding means for feeding strips of predetermined length, moistening means for rendering the strips adhesive, a main shaft having connections for positively operating the feeding and moistening means, a variable speed frictio'n drive including'a driving shaft for a friction disk, and means for actuating and arresting the main shaft during continuous operation of the driving shaft.

ating and arresting the main shaft during continuous operation of the driving shaft iiia eluding a main shaft driving member and means for releasably connecting saidmember and the friction disk.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this th day of May, 1914. 1

CHARLES MORTIMER.

Witnesses:

MANVEL Wumnmonu, JOHN W. TnonrsoN; 

